Electrical connection for electric signs



H. L. KRESGE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS Jan. 9, 1940.

Filed Feb. 7, 1939 hZ/Q/QY A. @5565. INVENTO BYZ% V ATTORNEYS Patented J an. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES a tars;

T I- QFF J ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC Y SIGNS Harry L. Kresge, New XorkQN Y, L Application.February- 7, 1939, serial No, 255,019 I t '2 Claims. (01. 173-323) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric signs and more particularly it relates to an insulator and electrode connection for neon signs. One type of insulator and electrode connector for suchsigns, in more or less general use is known as a post bushing and it is this type of connection to which the present invention relates. The subject matter of the present application is similar'i'n many respects to; that illustrated in my prior patent,

No. 2,147,847. I

Because of the fact that the electrodes of signs of the neontype are'not of uniform length, it is necessary to employ an electrical connection between the source of supp-ly and the electrode;

which connection must be of a type to adjust itself relatively-to electrodes of various'lengths in order that the bushing and its associated parts may be of standard or uniform construction.

It is one of the objectsoi this invention to improve the construction and operation of electrical connections of the post bushing type in such a manner that arcing due to short circuitpost is eliminated. l

whereby a more perfect electrical connection between the sign electrode and the conductor which supplies the currentthereto, ishad. Other objects of the invention will appear as the nature-thereof is better understood and reference will therefore be had to'the following specification and claims and to the accompanying drawing, in which, s

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention in its preferred form, I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View thereof,

Figure 3 is atransverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view in elevation partly in section illustrating aslightly modified form of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken ing between the electrode connection and the Another object resides in a novel construction I is rigid in character and said arm has its free end spaced an appreciable distance from the adjacent end of the main body portion l. The cylindrical body is made of porcelain, glass or other suitable non-conducting material and the 7 arm I3 is preferably formed as an integral por- 5 tion thereof.

Carried by the arm at. a point adjacent its free end, there is an electric terminal M. This terminal comprises a body portion of substan- I tially right angular form and is secured to the 10 arm 13 by a band, clip'or the like lirwhich passes around the arm. l3 and the member I6 of the terminal M, the latter extending along the inner face of the arm I3 as shown in Figure 2.:

The portion I! of the terminal 14 extends at in towards. the cylindrical 'member It], there is a conductor 25 which in that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, comprises a coiled spring, the major portion of which is tapered as illustrated. The coil spring conductor is secured to the member H, of the terminal M by the. bolt l9 as illustrated and through the medium of the terminal I4, has electrical connection with the conductor 2 l, The reference numeral 36 designates the sign electrode and this projects through the cylindrical member ll) of the post bushing and upon its free end it carries a contact washer orplate 3|, which forms a terminal such as described in my prior patent, No. 2,130,768, issued September 20, 1938, and is adapted for engagement with the 40 reduced end of the coil spring conductor 25 thus to, supply current to the electrode of the sign.

In practice, the cylindrical member ID is inserted in an opening in the box or housing in which the sign is enclosed, with the electrode extending through cylindrical member into engagement with the spiral spring conductor as shown in the drawing.

Means is provided to suspend the free end of the spiral spring conductor from the rigid arm l3'in order that the electrode terminal 3i will, when the bushing is assembled, be in position to be engaged by the terminal 3| of the electrode.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the means for suspending the free end of the spiral spring conductor comprises a member 35 which is both rigidly and electrically connected to the spiral spring conductor and which also embraces or passes around the rigid arm l3 of the bushing. The member 35 is substantially of inverted U-shape and its legs 36 are secured preferably to the last convolution of the conductor 25 by welding as illustrated at 3? in Figure 3.

In addition to providing means for suspending the free end of the spiral spring, the member 35 performs another function, namely, by reason of its being in circuit with the conductor 25, it passes the current around the arm I3 and this, I have found in actual practice, prevents jumping of the current from the conductor 25 to the arm I3, should the arm be wet or, as is sometimes the case, foul by reason of dirt or other deposits thereon.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the member 35 suspends the conductor 25 in proper position to be engaged bythe terminal 3| of the sign electrode and at the same time by forming a conductor for passing the electric current around the arm l3, arcing is eliminated.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 I have shown what is known as a pig tail connection which is designated 40. The reference numeral 4| designates a conventional clip which is secured to the arm l3 by a bolt 42. The pig tail connection 40 has a terminal 33 which receives the bolt 42 and a clip 34 of conventional type which has electrical engagement as at 35' with the terminal 36', also of the type described in my patent above mencloned, and which has electrical connection with the electrode 30 of the sign. To prevent sagging of the pig tail connection 40, I provide a clip 38 which embraces the arm l3, as illustrated in Figure 5 and which also has a portion 39 which embraces the pig tail connection 40 at a point between its ends and suspends the same intermediate of its ends in looped form from the arm l3, as best illustrated in Figure 3.

By this construction and arrangement of parts it will be obvious that the pig tail connection is supported in such a manner that it cannot contact with any of the metallic portions of the sign and thereby cause short circuiting thereof. Furthermore, the clip 38 having electrical connection with the pig tail connection 40, passes the current around the arm l3 to prevent arcing between the "pig tail connection and the arm l3 as in the preferred form.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved bushing construction and arrangement for neon signs in which the objects are efficiently accomplished, and while the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the specific constructions shown but may be illustrated in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A bushing for illuminated electric signs comprising a hollow cylindrical body, a rigid arm extending from one end of the hollow cylindrical body and having its free end spaced an appreciable distance from the body portion, an electrical contact member carried by said arm adjacent the free end thereof, a flexible electric conductor connected at one of its ends to said electrical contact member and extending from the outer end of the arm towards the hollow cylindrical body and having its other end free for electrical connection with an electric sign electrode, and means for suspending said electrical conductor from said arm, said conductor suspending means comprising a separate inverted U-shaped member slidably mounted upon the arm and having its legs rigidly connected to the conductor in circuit therewith.

2. A bushing for illuminated electric signs comprising a hollow cylindrical body, a rigid arm extending from one end of the hollow cylindrical body and having its free end spaced an appreciable distance from the body portion, an electrical contact member carried by said arm adjacent the free end thereof, a flexible electric conductor in the form of a compressible coiled spring connected at one of its ends to. said electrical contact member and extending from the outer end of the arm towards the hollow cylindrical body and having its other end free for electrical connection with an electric sign electrode, and means for suspending said electrical conductor from said arm, said conductor suspending means comprising a separated inverted U-shaped member slidably mounted upon the arm and having its legs rigidly connected to one of the convolutions of the coil spring conductor in electrical circuit therewith.

HARRY L. KRESGE. 

